Eleven years ago, Daniel Farke found himself riding a palomino horse around the pitch at Lippstadt, waving goodbye to a full stadium. Few in the crowd knew that Farke was afraid of horses and had only agreed to the ride out of respect for the club’s chairman, who had organized the gesture. “I couldn’t deny him,” Farke later said. “But it cured my fear—it was enjoyable.” Now, as the manager of Leeds United, Farke is pushing for similar courage and adaptability from his players. “We want to be hard to predict,” he said ahead of Leeds’ match against Newcastle United, managed by his compatriot Matthias Jaissle. “We have different approaches depending on the opponent. If a team has strong centre-backs, we might use more low passes. But we always want to be brave with the ball.” Leeds have shown a tactical variety this season, often opting for direct play. Only Hull and Nottingham Forest have used a higher percentage of long passes than Leeds, which is frequently led by Dominic Calvert-Lewin. “We often have a physical target player up front,” Farke explained, “so we can be more direct.” This flexibility reflects Farke’s admiration for contrasting styles, drawing inspiration from his friends Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp. That adaptability likely saved his job last season, after a poor start in which Leeds lost six of seven games. But a turnaround in late November, including a dramatic second-half comeback against Manchester City, led to a strong finish and a run to the FA Cup semi-finals. Leeds are now in a strong position as they negotiate an extension for Farke’s contract, which has less than a year remaining. “Daniel’s done great,” said Leeds managing director Robbie Evans. “We want him to be here long term.” A major development this summer was the £40m signing of goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City, a record fee for a British goalkeeper. The move was a significant coup for Leeds, especially after Newcastle had tried to sign him three times. Meanwhile, the stadium is expanding from 38,000 to 53,000 seats, and the club’s optimism is growing. “The spirit here is incredible,” said Trafford. “With the energy and quality in this team, anything is possible this season.” Farke has focused on building a cohesive team, with a strict policy against bringing in players who might disrupt the dressing room. Ethan Ampadu’s leadership has also helped foster unity. New signings like Tarik Muharemovic, a £34m acquisition from Sassuolo, and Harry Wilson from Fulham, have added both strength and skill to the squad. Yet Farke remains grounded, even after a difficult Carabao Cup match where Leeds lost 6-3 to Chelsea. “Let’s be honest, it was a nightmare debut,” he said about goalkeeper Michael Zetterer. “He’s a good goalkeeper, and he’ll have pressure next time, but he’ll handle it.” As Leeds prepare to face Newcastle, Farke knows the challenge will be tough. “Newcastle are very dangerous, especially on the counterattack,” he said. “But we want to be on top of their challenge. We want as many points as possible.” With a strong squad, a growing stadium, and a manager who has turned the club’s fortunes around, Leeds are looking to build on their recent success.